Welfare Minister Lord Freud Minister said: "These cases should
serve as a warning to the cynical minority who see benefits as a way of
unfairly lining their pockets at the taxpayer's expense.

"You will face justice and we will use all the powers of the law
to close down bank accounts, freeze assets and force the sale of
properties to claw back the stolen money and any proceeds made from that
stolen money.

"Those who refuse will face time behind bars and still have to pay up when they are out."

The ten of the highest sums of money convicted fraudsters have
been ordered to pay under the Proceeds of Crime Act during 2012/13 were:

:: Sly Malik, 49, of Barking who was ordered to pay back
£1,031,943 within 12 months or face five years in prison after being
found guilty of 12 charges of benefit fraud in October 2012 totalling
£38,997. Malik claimed jobseeker's allowance and housing benefit,
despite owning nine properties, running several companies and having
more than 70 bank accounts with more than £200,000.

:: A couple from Scotland had to pay back nearly £1 million
pounds after stealing £63,000. Anthony Kearney of Glasgow, was ordered
to pay £930,362 and Janet Kearney £13,003. They fled to Spain after
being charged with fraudulently claiming benefits and using stolen
identities but were extradited back to Scotland. Anthony Kearney was
sentenced to two years in prison and Janet Kearney to 250 hours of
community service.

:: Gladys Popoola, 51, of London, was ordered to pay back
£304,079. She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years in prison
for claiming a variety of benefits totalling £207,975 while working and
using fake identities. She had 19 bank accounts, including two for
companies she ran, and land and property in Kenya. She was given six
months to pay or face three-and-a-half years in prison.

:: Anthony David Kiley, 51, of London, was given two years to pay
£246,398 or face a two-year sentence after receiving £112,143 in
benefits he was not entitled to. He pleaded guilty to working while
claiming income support and failing to declare capital.

:: Emidio Dos Santos, 39, of London, was given six months to pay
£178,733 or face two years in prison. He was jailed for 21 months for
the laundering of stolen DWP and HM Revenue and Customs cheques. He
initially evaded prison, but was apprehended by police.

:: Inam Ul-Haq, 48, of Walsall, was ordered to pay £148,794
within six months or face 21 months in jail. He pleaded guilty to
claiming £31,116 in income support while failing to declare capital.

:: Catherine Williams, 51, of London, was ordered to pay
£137,723. She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine months for
claiming income support as a lone parent, despite living with her
partner and working full time for Brent Council and having property in
Nigeria.

:: Alison Jacques, 55, of Leeds, was ordered to pay £116,954,
after being sentenced to 10 months in prison having pleaded guilty to
claiming income support, incapacity benefit and council tax benefit
while working full time in a call centre for British Gas.

:: Moin Ahmed, 79, of London, was ordered to pay £100,000. Moin
was sentenced to two years for fraudulent claims to income support,
housing benefit and council tax credits using two identities, while also
subletting the council properties.

:: Bertie Mooney, 66, of Manchester, was ordered to pay £100,000
within six months or face two years in jail. He pleaded guilty to using
false identities to fraudulently claim various DWP benefits.